Chapter 298 Confrontation

"This ghost place only has a few rocks and a name. It is neither dangerous nor steep, and the slope is not large. Looking at the plains, this execution battle will be unobstructed on three sides. If I were a Tatar general, I would be surrounded on three sides with superior troops. beat."

Qian Yue took the generals to inspect the terrain of Xuanshi Slope, and many generals complained.

Qian Yue stood on the Wo Niu Stone. When he heard this, he put down the monocular telescope and said with a smile: "The grassland is vast, and it's pretty good here. We have few soldiers, but the enemy has many. If we block one side with the Xuanshi Slope, we can bring back some gains." Disadvantages."

Then he asked: "Are the cavalry ready? The Tartars are famous for their cavalry. They have always wanted to defeat the Tartars, but infantry is far from enough. The right way is to combine foot and cavalry."

When infantry fights cavalry, generally speaking, there are only disadvantages but no advantages. Especially mobility is what troubles the infantry the most. Even if the heavy armored infantry can withstand the impact of the cavalry, with the mobility of the cavalry, they can come and leave as they please. Even if you lose, it won't be a big defeat and you can preserve your strength.

The experience and lessons here already existed during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Why did King Wuling of Zhao want to ride and shoot in Hufu? It is precisely because we have suffered too much from this aspect.

At that time, the armies of various countries in China were mainly infantry and chariot troops. These two arms are far inferior to the cavalry in terms of flexibility, maneuverability and speed. Facing the enemies in the north, we can often only passively attack them. Even if we win, we can't catch up and expand our results.

As a result, the cavalry gradually received more attention and replaced chariot soldiers as the king of the battlefield.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty drove the Huns from the north with more than just infantry. Combining infantry and cavalry and fighting together is the best tactic for dealing with cavalry.

"Use infantry to block the charge of the cavalry, use cavalry to support and chase it." Qian Yue said: "When the enemy cavalry rushes into formation, in ancient times, they first fired a volley of arrows, and then used heavy armor and shields to form a spear formation to carry them hard. Use. The infantry held back the enemy's cavalry, and then sent out the supporting cavalry to deal a heavy blow."

"Our army has sharp firearms, excellent armor, and everyone is brave. It is not difficult to block the enemy's cavalry. But to kill the enemy on a large scale, it requires some calculation. Have the tens of thousands of enemies on the expected battlefield been properly planted?"

Hearing this, a general beat his chest and said: "With Xuanshi Slope as the center, within a distance of 200 to 300 steps, dig three ditches, and ambush one military commander in each. The mission is already halfway through, and it will be completed before noon. .”

Qian Yue nodded: "The faster, the better. To lay down thousands of enemies and blow them up, it is most suitable to be within two hundred to three hundred steps. At this distance, the enemy has already charged, and there is no possibility of turning back. The only option is to hold on." A head-on charge. After entering 200 steps, fire a volley of fire cannons. Probably no more than four rounds, and there will be a hand-to-hand encounter."

After all, infantry versus cavalry is a positional battle. Since it is a positional battle, it is natural to create some defensive measures. There are no conditions or suitable conditions for rejecting horses or iron nails. On the other hand, grenades similar to those used by tens of thousands of enemies can be used in this place.

Although Lima Peak is called a peak, it is just a grass slope, and Xuanshi Slope is called a stone, but in fact it is just a few huge lying cow stones on a grass slope. One side can be blocked, but the other three sides cannot be blocked.

Qian Yue took this as the center and set up his formation. Digging ditches in front of the formation to ambush the troops, and using thousands of people to fight against the enemy, is certainly a good strategy.

Of course, the danger of lying in ambush in a ditch to target thousands of enemies is definitely greater. But since it is a war, this is inevitable.

Qian Yue's purpose was to use all possible means to cause more damage to the enemy.

According to the news coming from the front, the Tatar army has at least 50,000 to 60,000 troops. And he only has twelve thousand people. Excluding the cavalry battalions belonging to each ministry, there were only nine thousand people who were not closed at night and engaged in positional warfare.

All this is to increase the damage. It's not that I'm afraid of the Tatars, but I'm afraid that too many Tatars will escape.

"Our school has four hundred cannons, one thousand artillerymen, four thousand spearmen, and four thousand musketry, arranged in three formations. When the enemy arrives, fire the artillery at a thousand steps, fire at three hundred steps against ten thousand enemies, and fire at ten thousand enemies at two hundred steps. Fire the blunderbuss and strike from a distance in three rounds. Even if there are 30,000 people, I can still kill 10,000 of them. Then the soldiers will fight in close combat, with spears and blunderbuss, and then the cavalry will be fired sideways to defeat the enemy."

"Looking at Pingchuan from the Xuanshi slope, the Tatars want to attack us on three sides. The formation does not have to be dense, but they only need thirty or twenty thousand troops. They have fifty or sixty thousand soldiers and horses, and they can be defeated in the first wave of attack. They will not dare to come again. He will definitely flee in panic. Then he will chase them with cavalry, killing up to several thousand people. In other words, if he can take down half of the enemy's troops this time, he will be done."

Finally, Qian Yue said: "However, the battle situation can change in many ways. All calculations should be made as a reference. All generals must keep this in mind when adapting to changes in battle."

Not to mention that Xuanshipo was well-positioned here, but Wu Keshan led his troops to the vicinity of Xuanshipo. Sure enough, it was already noon.

The sun was shining brightly at this time, and it was August, the hottest time of the year. Although it is called a small glacier in this era, the temperature will not get very low during the hottest time.

Looking from a distance, the heat is scorching and the air is distorted. Both men and horses were exhausted.

Wu Keshan had already discovered that Qian Yue was arraying on Xuanshi Slope, so he was not in a hurry at this time. He ordered his younger brother Chahan to lead thousands of cavalry around the area as a warning. Then he ordered the army to set up camp, intending to rest temporarily, eat and drink, and build up their strength before fighting with them.

The two sides are now only five or six miles apart, and Xuan Shipo's military formation can be vaguely seen here. Especially the Chiyou flag erected high on the black stone slope, hunting in the wind, looking ferocious.

From the grassland to the capital, of course, there is more than just the Xuanshipo road. But this is the nearest and most familiar road. Or to say that Wu Keshan bypassed Xuanshipo and ignored Qian Yue and attacked the capital directly is childish talk.

Both parties already know each other, how can they get around it?

If Wu Keshan chooses a way to break into the capital, let alone whether he can break through the Great Wall, just if Qian Yue is behind him, that will be a recipe for death. Aren't you afraid of being attacked from both sides?

Besides, Wu Keshan had many soldiers and great power, so it was natural for him to push forward with great force. Moreover, he wanted to test the enemy's quality first - it was no longer Ming Ting, and the enemy was very unfamiliar.

While the Tatars were eating to regain their strength, Qian Yue was also having lunch. The treatment of Ying Yi's army is excellent. When the army fights abroad, the dry food they carry includes dried meat.

However, at this stage, dry food made from dried meat only accounts for a small part. China was not in peace, and production had not yet recovered. As far as meat was concerned, there was an extreme shortage. Even if the price is high, the private sector will not be able to collect much.

Qian Yue stood on the black stone slope, looked at it for a long time with a monocular telescope, and said: "The Tatars are really rich. Look at the cattle and sheep, there should be 100,000 of them, right?"

The general next to him said: "One hundred thousand head is definitely not bad. Looking at its size, the army should be about 60,000. With 60,000 people eating and drinking, it is inevitable to bring 100,000 head of livestock. This is because Horqin is not far from the capital. Otherwise, two One hundred thousand or three hundred thousand is possible."